This English sentence ends with "the first".

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

era of the vassal

"Japan should end the current shogunate system、which has the potential to arouse suspicion among other countries that it is a fraudster、and replace it with a government system run by a council of lords (wise marquis conference) that clearly defines the Mikado as the head of state."

At first、Ernest Satow certainly claimed this (albeit anonymously).

"In Japan、feudal lords are nothing more than decorations.

The real important people to the duchy are among his vassals."

But in this era、when the Japanese had passed through a 250-year feudal era where order was justice (it was a peaceful era in general)、he quickly realized this.

※By the way、according to my memory、I believe that the following statement was probably made by Kissinger san (although it is possible that it was made by a completely different person・lol).

"The greatest secret to successful diplomatic negotiations is honesty."

It's like a remark by Miyamoto Musashi san(lol).※

・・・・・・・・・

There was a Satsuma samurai named "Ōkubo Ichizō" who was a childhood friend of Saigo.

From this period onwards、his presence became clearly visible on the center stage of history as the Tokugawa shogunate's most formidable enemy.

Due to the defeat in the battle with Choshu、the authority of the Tokugawa shogunate was greatly diminished both inside and outside the country、but Okubo planned to inflict further damage on this.

At this time、the deadline for opening the Port of Hyogo to foreign countries was approaching.

This was an official agreement made by the Tokugawa shogunate with foreign countries.

However、preparations for opening the port were progressing slowly.

This is because Hyogo Port was too close to Kyoto.

For this reason、there was still fierce opposition from Kyoto's aristocrats regarding this matter (it seems that many aristocrats who were friendly to the Tokugawa shogunate also held similar views regarding this matter).

※I don't know anything about Emperor Meiji、but it seems that Emperor Komei was shown a picture like a Japanese demon、saying "This is the face of a Westerner". 2023123117:36(japan time).

"The Tokugawa shogunate no longer has the power to persuade the Imperial Court in Kyoto.

In this matter、it is better for you to rely on the Satsuma clan、which has the deep trust of the Kyoto court、rather than the Tokugawa. "

Okubo energetically held a series of meetings with diplomats from Western countries and advocated this.

"Turning a blind eye to this extremely important issue and placing the blame solely on Tokugawa would be extremely ungrateful to Tokugawa、to whom we are indebted.

And more than anything、in such a case、even if we are condemned to have committed the crime of apostasy to the Imperial Court、there is no way we can escape from that crime.

"We should all pool our knowledge and find the best solution to this problem.

I propose that a conference of influential lords be held in Kyoto."

He also actively engaged in political maneuvering in Kyoto's political circles.

　

"The lord is only a nominal existence."

Maybe he also had thought so.

"Loyalty to the lord is Loyalty to the lord.

Reality politics is Reality politics.

We need to consider the two separately."　

　

This may be a modern way of thinking.

(For example、Emperor agency theory.)

※As I wrote before、Emperor Showa was a supporter of this theory.

However、he seems to have strictly disciplined himself、believing that it would be a violation of the constitution to make such a public statement (the act of making public own's private feelings and thereby having a serious impact on national politics).※

The era that had lasted since the Middle Ages、where the names of feudal lords made history、ended in both name and reality with the 250-year peace、and the era of vassals with ability had come.　

※When a certain vassal died、the daimyo、who had been known as a great ruler、suddenly lost his luster.

It seems that there are certainly cases where such rumors have been made.※

※The only one I've read before is case of Fujita Toko san (lol). 2023123118:36 (japan time).

※For example、if I am isolated、I can't do anything.※

Thursday, 8 November 2012

forerunner

I believe that similar eras existed in every country in the world、but in Japan、there was a period of warring states from around 1500 to 1600 AD、in short、a period of war.

There were many talented feudal lords in this era、because if they weren't、they would quickly be destroyed by neighboring countries.

It was the Tokugawa shogunate that finally ended this era of war and ushered in an era of peace in Japan.

This era of peace would last for 250 years.

"Please follow the precedent in everything you do、and try to do your job without overdoing it or not making any mistakes."

This became the basic policy of the feudal lords living in this era of peace.

If so、the lord no longer needed to be competent.

※In terms of the "possibility of overdoing something"、a competent lord may have been more of a nuisance to his vassals than an incompetent lord.

During periods other than the end of the Edo period、the Tokugawa shogunate had the right under customary law(?) to destroy daimyo families that were judged to have committed crimes. 2024010114:57(japan time).

※In the early days of the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate、the head of the Maeda clan、which once had the same rank as the Tokugawa clan under the Toyotomi government、seemed to intentionally behave like an idiot in public.

Of course、there is a possibility that the Maeda clan selected an idiot as the lord from among their relatives、but either way、this is probably part of the Maeda clan's struggle to avoid unnecessary suspicions from the Tokugawa shogunate.※

・・・・・・・・・

The previous lord of Satsuma was a man named "Shimazu Nariakira".

"Jōi (expulsion of the foreigners) is stupid.

What will happen to Japan's future if it does such stupid things？"

He declared this clearly from an early stage at the end of the Edo period、and actual history ultimately proceeded in the direction he predicted.

※I think it was still before Perry sailed to Japan、before he became the lord of Satsuma (I'm relying on my memory to write this、but I think he was not a prince、and it was at a time when he was "stocked" as a spare for a prince at the residence of the Satsuma clan in Edo).

"It is impossible for an island country like Japan with a large coastline to prevent invasions from other countries.

For example、we would advance into areas where Qing was suffering from the southward movement of Russia and cooperate with Qing to prevent this.

Unless Japan takes such proactive action、it will be difficult to defend Japan from the West."

This is also based on my memory、and I think he made such a claim. 2023010116:08(japan time).

And he discovered Saigo's talent when he was just a common low-class samurai.

It may be the same as the existence of Katsu for Sakamoto.

(Of course、for Saigo、Nariakira is his lord.)

At a time when times were about to turn into turbulent times、Nariakira embarked on reforming the shogunate government together with his comrades (I think the young Tokugawa Yoshinobu was also included).

However、at that time、he suddenly became ill and passed away.

After this、the real power of the Satsuma clan passed to his half-brother.

That man、Shimazu Hisamitsu (※"HS" found !・lol/2024010117:16/japan time)、he respected Nariakira (from a British perspective、he was the main culprit in the Namamugi Incident).

※And it was Nariakira himself who entrusted the future of Satsuma to him in his verbal will.

However、during the process of Nariaki becoming the lord of Satsuma、there was a fierce power struggle between the two factions (not the two men).

For this reason、there was a tense relationship between Saigo's faction and Hisamitsu until the end.

※According to my memory.

Nariakira went hunting、and while he was there he drank water from a well.

After that、he suddenly became ill and passed away.

Therefore、the Nariakira faction、including Saigo、suspected that this was an assassination by Hisamitsu's mother.※